Ladder or similar structure.



No. 773,582. PATBNTED NOV. 1, 1904..

' M. MURPHY.

LADDER OR SIMILAR STRUCTURE. APPLICATION FILED OUT. a0, 1903.

N0 MODEL. F2 5 .7- F5 5 2 F5 6 5-- -W1'i11e6de6 g JZYZTZZJIYTOI"fljjorney UNITED STATES Patented November 1, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

LADDER OR SIMILAR STRUCTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming p r of Let r Pa en N 7'73,582, dated November 1,1904.

Application filed October so, 1903.

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MIoHAEL MURPHY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Auburn, in the county of Cayuga and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ladders or SimilarStructures, of which the following is aspecification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings on one sheet, making part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to ladders and similar structures in which rounds,rungs, or steps are used for ascending and descending the same whenplaced in a proper position for such purpose; and the object of myimprovement is to render the said ladders or similar structures safe, sothat in case a rung or step gives way or breaks when being used asmentioned no resultant injury may befall the person using the same.

A further object of my invention is to prevent the said structures fromspreading apart when they may have shrunk or otherwise become loosenedfrom various causes.

I, attain the above objects by the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of aladder, showing my improvement applied thereon. Fig. 2 is an outsideside view of a portion of one of the side rails of the ladder with myimprovement shown in place thereon. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2and shows the grooves formed in the same at intervals thereof; and Fig.4 is a sectional view of a portion of Fig. 1, taken from the lower orbottom end thereof.

In the several views mentioned similar figures of reference refer tosimilar parts.

In the perspective View shown in Fig. 1 the side rails 1 1 are connectedtogether by a series of rungs or steps 2 2, which, especially inladders, is the common form of construction. It not infrequently occursthat from long use or exposure to the weather the rungs of the ladderwhere they enter the side rails become decayed and weakened, which faultis not observable until they are brought to the test of use, whenserious accidents are likely to occur to the person ascending ordescending on Serial No. 179,151. (No model.)

the same. I aim to remedy this objection not only in ladders, but instructures of asimilar character, by the use of a strengthening wire orcable 3, for the placement of which the ladder is constructed in thefollowing manner:

The side rails 1 1 are provided on their outer sides and intermediatelybetween the rungs 2 2 with grooves 44, as plainly seen in Figs. 1 and 2.The ends of the rungs 2 2 are also provided with a groove 5, which iscontinuous with a groove 6, formed in the length of the said rung 2, asshown in Fig. 4. When the side rails and the rungs of the ladder areassembled, they are arranged so that the longitudinal grooves 6 6 shallbe on the under sides of the rungs 2 2 and the grooves v5 5 of saidrungs 2 2 continuous with the grooves 4 I, provided on the outer sidesof the rails intermediately between said rungs, as already mentioned.This arrangement of grooves in the several parts of the structure isclearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The side rails 1 1 and the rungs 2 2being arranged together, with the longitudinal grooves of the latterdownward and the end grooves of the same in proper place, which isplainly shown in Fig. 4: at 7.

The other end of the wire or cable 3 is next carried upward on theoutside of the rail and into the groove 6 of the lower rung,passingcompletely throughthe same to the outer side of the opposite rail, andfrom thence upward in the groove 5 at the end of the rung and in thegroove 4 of the rail to the longitudinal groove of the succeeding rungabove, and so on continuously throughout the length of the ladder, thesaid wire or cable being properly laid in the grooves of the rails anddrawn taut at each successive step of the operation, when the endisfinally secured on the inner side of the top end of one of the siderails, as seen in Fig. 1. To further secure the wire or cable in itsdesired position and to prevent any possibility of its sagging throughtemperature changes or becoming otherwise disarranged, staple-fastenings8 are provided, as shown, and placed Where thought necessary. In thedrawings it will be observed I have shown staples 8 placed over the wireor cable in the groove of the rung and driven in the latter and also atintervals over the Wire or cable in the grooves of the side rails. Itwill be evident, however, that such fastenings may be dispensed with, ifdeemed necessary. It will also be seen that the ends of each alternaterung of the ladder or like structure are secured to the side rails by apin, as shown at 9 in the several figures. While this fastening is notabsolutely necessary, it serves to further assure the stability of thewhole, as is evident.

From the above description it will be observed that should any of therungs of the ladderbreak or give way through the weight or otherwise ofthe person ascending or clescending the same he is insured from fallingor other injury by the intervention of the wire or cable placedcontinuously from one end of the ladder, where it is made fast upon theoutside of the side rails and in the grooves provided on the under sideof the rungs or rounds and finally fastened at the opposite end of theside rail, as has been described, thus looping the side rails together,as it may be said, and providing an additional factor of safety for theperson using the same and strengthening the whole structure.

Having thus described the construction and utility of my improvement indetail, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is-

In a ladder or similar structure the combination of the side rails 1,having outside intermediate grooves 4:, and the rounds or rungs 2,having end grooves 5, and longitudinal grooves 6, with a wire or cable3, laid in said grooves with suitable fastenings and secured at the topand bottom ends of said side rails 1, substantially in the manner andfor the purpose herein specified and shown.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Auburn, New York,this 21st day of October, A. D. 1903.

MICHAEL MURPHY.

In presence of HARRY D. BENHAM, FRANK R. RATHBUN.

